leapfrog

1 of 2

noun

leap·​frog ˈlēp-ˌfrȯg 

-ˌfräg

: a game in which one player bends down and is vaulted over by another player

leapfrog

2 of 2

verb

leapfrogged; leapfrogging

intransitive verb

: to leap or progress in or as if in leapfrog

transitive verb

1

: to go ahead of (each other) in turn

specifically : to advance (two military units) by keeping one unit in action while moving the other unit past it to a position farther in front

2

: to evade by or as if by a bypass

Examples of leapfrog in a Sentence

Verb

Skipping his last two years of high school, he leapfrogged his classmates and went to college.

This year's technologies are leapfrogging last year's designs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There is no kayfabe benefit to reminding people that the champion struggles to string together leapfrogs. —Oliver Bateman, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025

The victory sees the Ravens leapfrog the Chargers in the AFC playoff standings, with Baltimore moving up to fifth and the Bolts falling to sixth. —Ben Morse, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

Africa’s clean energy needs are surging as the continent seeks to leapfrog traditional infrastructure and provide electricity to the nearly 600 million people still without access. —Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 5 June 2025

Stiller leapfrogged to the next wrung of Hollywood stardom, becoming a comedy kingpin for the next decade, while De Niro turned his tough guy persona on its head, extending his star power into the 21st century. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1872, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for leapfrog

• agog
• backlog
• bulldog
• bullfrog
• eclogue
• eggnog
• groundhog
• hedgehog
• prolog
• sheepdog
• watchdog
• analog

Kids Definition

leapfrog

noun

leap·​frog

ˈlēp-ˌfrȯg,

-ˌfräg

: a game in which the first player bends down and another leaps over